Preparation of Segmented Microtubules to Study Motions Driven by the Disassembling Microtubule EndsVladimir A. Volkov 1,2, Anatoly V. Zaytsev 3, Ekaterina L. Grishchuk 3
1Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russia, 3Physiology Department, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Microtubules are inherently unstable polymers, and their switching between growth and shortening is stochastic and difficult to control. Here we describe protocols using segmented microtubules with photoablatable stabilizing caps. Depolymerization of segmented microtubules can be triggered with high temporal and spatial resolution, thereby assisting analysis of motions with the disassembling microtubule ends.
